Brassiere



June 7, 1949. H. H. BRUDERLIN BRASSIRE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 2, 1946 June 7, 1949 H. H. BRUDERLIN 2,472,280

BRAssIRE Filed Dec. 2, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 7% ZZ l Z1@ E by@ n I Arroz/Vey Patented June 7, 1949 2,472,280 'BRAssIR-E Henry H Bruderlin,"Venice,y Calif.

AlilicationDecember 2, 1946, ySerial N0.'7I3';546

' :This invention" relatesto brassires and? isfdi- --rected more particularlytoahrassires rof':1the-so called strapless type fwnich :are A*supported von the :bodyf of\ thewearerlwithout'thef assistance of l the yusual straps"A passingf"ovr theishoul'ders and attached to front and rear portions lof l the garement.

v'There are vseveral 'fvrieties f of y strapless Ibrassires .alreadyfknlown butnonefof them 'has been -foundto be ntirelytsatisfactory. "The simplest type is little morethanwfa conventional brassire .with thel slioulder strays're'movedffandfis heldin place by higheircumferential'tension which tends .to pull the-vcupiport'ionsout of." shape and deforin the breasts. In orderftdinsn're that :it do'esn'ot 'lslipfdownward, it iszm'e'cessary to epr'ovide'l tie mal terial 4at* thefront center r-`'of":the:"ga1-rne`nt "at: a *lever near.theitopiof the'tilps.- Conseque'ntlyflthis ftype'l is not `suitable forf=use `with-fdres`ses having deep n'eeklines fsince the tie if member Awould 'be visible.

, Another type makes ;use'foffsubstantial1y the :same basicfmernber'f described above butinclucles `wire/stays of variousf-kinds adapted tolstiilen'or -support local 'areasl 'of Athe-brassire. =Whif1e i this type is igenerally more satisfactory, it isvnot "a complete solution .to the-problem because itis likewise -maintained sin position #.byccireumferential .tension in `thefabric ywhich reausesdistorytion. Since the tension-is tendingftodistort the fabric .andthe vstays rare-tending `-to khold it Ain shape, ii-,is .obvious th'atj-vthere. is Ka strong: tendency vfor the vfabric., to. fail and tear lawayvvhere 'the load is transferred from the fabric -to the wlre.

Another vdrawback yfof alltypes .1f/of fstrapless brassires known iup .to this time isfthat :they Te/Cluire 4a band across "the"back, .usuallyincluding a dtachablefastener inthe :center of the back. .In yaddition totheinconvenience of such an arrangrnent'the'bak strap, in the case of Ja .bathing suit brassire, -precludes f.the'-.possibility of building' up an 'even coat .offtanacrossthe iba'ck. 4Con''s equeiitly'," a'viromar'i.who Wearsabathing suitprovded Yiilith `such a brassire is unable "to "wear a' backle'ss .''veig. gbW'n because of the nnsi'ghtly'markproduced. ,y

' Thpreserit" invention 'overcomes al1-:of 'theA 'clif- 'nculties presented byLi previous `types f bras- F`sier'e'sa'iid"also"possesses acditi'onaladvantages and features outlined below. In thefnewftype brassire there is providedffor .the/.first time a Icompletely self-'supporting fra-me which does n-ot rely for any of its:supporton-the'fabriczofthe brassire 'properan'il f--vvhich' .does -not @place .'any strain on the fabric. Moreover it eliminates-the zback fstrap together with ,-itsrffastening fmember mentioned above and leaves almost the *entire `vviclthof the wearers-ibackfexposed to thef'sun, in :the case: Qffibathing suitibrassires, vso that'ia uniform 1 suntan .imayffbe obtained.

The iframe ris @complete in =itse1f and '.:can the shaped to provide the most desirable "outline,"in cluding 'ifa yverylowicenter"isection suitableffor dresses withv deep fnecklines. Meanslarer provided for varying' its yperipheralaand-verticalextent so ythat a singlefframe-will encompassfavwde range of sizes. Another feature of one form of @the fdevice" is that r4-thee-'right an'dlft halves f-the frame are pivotally connected together'so `that the frame can flex to accommodate'v'all types of 4'body movements'without becoming displaced an-d Without interfering with 'or restraining such movements.

The frame is of "generally ce'shape' conforming `to the contourspfthe body'and is formedofresilent material by"viitue""of which it resiliently 4grips the 'body exerting a'lslightpressureat"all points. Experiencelhas sh'ovvnL that. it isy far more "comfortable 'than any' type"'\vliich requires a back strap.

Since the frame is"ba"s'ic"ally complete initself it is necessary to. have only onelframeon 'which anyfdesire'd cover maylbe mounted in a few"'moments. "Ihei'covers 'arefmade in pairs, each covering only one'h'alflof'the frame. 'Each cover is provided Witna. pocket of the same shape vas the'frame, having an .open mouth into which the freevend .of `the"`fr'ame may be -inserted, Whereafter the frame 'is collapsed and pushed 'ntoth'e' pocket. The' frame 'then'. expands '.'to its original shape andflthe cover is `firmly held in place against any accidental displacement.

"The frame maybefma'de .of Wire or of plastic such as Luc-ite. vThe .latter is quite resilient and has a low vspring .rate so that, in the yunstressedv state, itv may be formed? into a completely .closed loop -WithmtheQfreeends i overlapping by 'about a quarter of the developed length. of the frame. In this form it takes up very little room and can be conveniently packed for traveling. When it is spread sufficiently to apply to the body the pressure is not uncomfortable because of the low spring rate.

Although the invention is intended primarily to provide a strapless brassire it is Within the ambit of the invention to provide the usual should straps if desired. The straps are useful where very substantial uplift is required, and at the same time the open frame provides comfort and freedom of action which is unattainable in any brassire requiring a back strap. Simple safety ties may, of course, be provided on the bathing suit type of brassire for temporary use during strenuous activities, such as diving.

Other features and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

While the invention may take numerous forms, those which are presently preferred are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a three-quarter rear View in perspective of one form of the brassire frame of this invention with the cover removed;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of said frame with the cover in place, but with a portion thereof broken away;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view illustrating the means for obtaining vertical adjustment;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a detail view of an end portion of the frame of Fig. 1, showing a modification thereof;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a plastic frame similar to Fig. 1 coiled into a closed loop in unstressed condition;

Fig. 9 is a developed view of a portion of a modification made from sheet material;

Fig. 10 is a partial front elevational view of another modified form of the frame of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line II-ll of Fig. 10.

Referring rst to Fig. 1, the basic frame, generally indicated by the numeral l0, comprises an uppery thin or narrow, elongate element l2, and a similar lower element I4. The latter lies substantially in a horizontal plane and is generally C-shaped in plan, as is apparent in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The upper element lies more or less vertically above the lower element and is similarly lC-shaped in plan. However, in elevation, it is j seen that this element is divided into right and left hand medial portions i6 and I8 having an upwardly arched shape to conform to the breasts of the wearer.

The adjacent ends of the arched portions are provided with interengaging bridge members 20, 22, each provided with a loop or eye 24 for rotatable and slidable engagement with the cooperating straight member. The telescoping connection provides lateral or peripheral adjustment so that one frame will serve for several sizes and will permit any desired amount of separation of the breasts. The pivotal nature of the connection, together with the resilience of the material of the frame, permits axial twisting and flexure to follow various body movements Without imposing undue restraint. The specific construction of the connection will be apparent from an examination of Fig. 5. When the frame is unstressed the connection may be adjusted readily 4 but tends to bind in adjusted position when the frame is applied to the body of the wearer.

The lower element is provided with a similar connection which can be adjusted over a wider range to insure a snug fit in every instance.

The outer free ends of the upper and lower elements converge toward each other as seen in Fig. 4 and are curved to form a C-shape, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, conforming to the sides and back of the wearer.

The entire frame may be made of resilient material, such as wire, and in its free, unstressed state it encloses a cross sectional area somewhat less than that of the body. It is applied by opening it out far enough to slip around the body, with member IA below the breasts and member l2 above them. Since the frame is resilient, it tends to return to its original size and therefore exerts a rm but resilient grip on the body suicient to hold it securely in position. The pressure is distributed thruout the entire length of the frame and the result is an unusually comfortable support.

'ixhe right and left halves of the frame may y each be formed from a single length of wire having an integral loop 26, 28 at the free end of the frame. In order to obtain added resiliency, the wire in the loop portions may be flattened in cross section as shown in Fig. 6. This also makes it possible to bend the loop portions more readily to make slight modifications in the curvature of the frame.

A modification of the free end portions of the frame is illustrated in Fig. 7 in which the integral loop is replaced by a piece of sheet material 3), preferably metal, rolled over the individual ends of the elements l2 and Ill at 32 and 34, and secured thereto by soldering, brazing, or other suitable means. The thin sheet, being resilient and bendable, serves the same purpose as the integral loop.

The brassire is completed by the provision of suitable covering material mounted on the frame in a novel manner. The cover is preferably of fabric such as is generally used in conventional brassires. It is made in right and left hand halves 36 and 38, each of which includes the usual cup portion and additional material passing around the side to the back. To this piece of material is attached a second piece 40 stitched to the first piece along a line corresponding to the outline of the frame and forming a pocket closed at all point except the mouth 42 at the end of neck 44. The pocket thus formed is considerably wider intermediate its ends than it is at the mouth. To assemble the parts in position the frame is collapsed and the free end portion 26 or 28 is inserted into the open mouth 42. The balance of the frame follows thru and is then allowed to expand inside the pocket, making an assembly which is secure against accidental displacement. The cover for the other half is similarly mounted. The neck of each cover extends beyond the mid point of the frame so that the two overlap, and they may be seisired together by any conventional snap fastener A modification of the brassire so far described has been found to be desirable in eases where very substantial uplift is required. In such cases, shoulder straps t5 are provided in the usual manner. The straps hold the frame and cover as high as desired, and yet the freedom afforded by the open back makes this arrangement far superior in comfort and support to a conventional "type. Aneck strap canbe'attachedjto the'rbridge section to get the sameibenecial resultfor`bathing.suit mear. p v,

iAltho the frame as'iiisclosed has a very tenacious gripfthere.isaslightpossibility of displacement, when used as afoundation for a bath- Iing suitfbrassire, fduringwper-iods of yvery strenuous activity such as diving. '.Forr-these circumstances, tieistraps 4l vare provided to be tied across the back temporarily. When not needed, v they-inlay be readily tucked 4Vaway out of=sight Pvbetween the free i ends of the"'br-assire and the *It is desirable to prov-idemeansfor controlling 'ments as-^afurther element of producing I'a `-satis- 'iiactor-y t. This is l"accomplishe'di.by meansof a stie member 48, Vshown in vFigli, whichx maybel a ribbon passingoiaround 1-thelow-er element and the bridge between the arched portions. When `thefelenfients have been drawn together 4`tothe *desired degree'the Hribbonis tied to maintain the adjustment. `It -may be tie'd V"directly "over *the frame or positioned outside the covers after they are in place to serve an added decorative function.

In a modied form of the invention the frame generally illustrated in Fig. 1 may be made of a strip of plastic material, such as Lucite The strip is preferably of rectangular cross section similar to the showing of Fig. 6. Dimensions of the order of Tae by T56" have been found to give very satisfactory results with this material. The plastic frame may be made without the adjustable connections 20, 22. Since it has a greater resiliency and lower spring rate than wire it will iiex more readily under the same conditions.

The plastic frame is a very desirable type for those who travel. It can be formed in its unstressed state so that it forms a closed loop with the ends overlapping to the extent of about a quarter of the developed length of the frame as illustrated in Fig. 8. Because of its resiliency and low spring rate it can be spread far enough to encompass the body without exterting excessive pressure. It is obvious that a frame of this type can be conveniently packed in a small space in a traveling bag.

Fig. 9 illustrates a variation of the invention in which the entire frame is made of a single piece of sheet material 50, which may be metal or plastic. Breast openings 52 are cut in the sheet and the free ends 54 are curved to form a C- shape as in the previous modifications. Additional ventilation openings may be provided as desired.

In a further modification of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. and 11, the frame elements may be formed of wire which is relatively rigid. In this case the upper frame elements 56 and 58 are provided with slotted ends, as at 6|), 62, into which is inserted a strip of resilient metal 64, which may be soldered, brazed or otherwise secured thereto. The lower elements 56, E8 are joined to strip 10 in the same manner. This type of frame is applied to the body in the same way as the other types but practically all of the yielding takes places in the strips 64 and 1D. The frame elements are, however, resilient enough to be collapsed for assembly with the covers.

One of the important advantages of the invention is that a single frame may serve as the basis of any number of different brassires, since one pair of covers may be replaced by another in a few moments. Since the covers are compara- 6 tivelysimple and inexpensive, a substantial `savingis thusieil'ected. n, v 'The springbia'sing eiect, "which'is commonto :all of thezformsdisclosed, 'provides'l thexfmostcornforta'ble brassireso far devised, andonewhi'ch 'places the least'restrainton-various body-*movements. n l y I y Whilewarious preferred forms of 4`the inven- .tionthave been `illustrated 'and described hereinabove. it'willbe apparent thatmany changes and modifications 'may be vmade without departing iromgtlie invention, and it is intendedth-at Ifall .suchchangesand modications shall'V beembraced `within yt-he'scorpe ofthe following claims.

lJA-self supporting strapless 'brassire co` 'pi'isingz a generally-'Q -shaped frame, the -medial portion nof whichfincludesupper and lower lat- 'erallysxtending lwire lelements curved inplan viewjtol conform to the' bodyofl the4 wearer adjajcent the breasts, leach `o f said elements ibeing `structurally `continuous across'the'plane of symmetry *and thruout'l their lengths; the-'upper'ele ment having two sections, one at each side of the plane of symmetry of the frame arched upwardly away from the lower element to denne therewith a pair of breast receiving openings; the free ends of said elements being more sharply curved in plan view than the medial portion to engage the sides and back of the wearer and converging toward each other and being joined at their extreme ends; the juncture of said free ends being below the midpoint of the medial frontal portion of said frame; said frame being spring biased to resiliently grip the body and retain itself in position thereon; and breast supporting covering material mounted on said frame in such manner as to prevent direct contact between said frame and the body.

2. A brassire as claimed in claim 1 in which said upper and lower elements are each divided into two sections; each pair of sections being pivotally joined on an axis substantially tangent to the center of said frame.

3. A frame for a brassire comprising: symmetrica] right and left frame members of resilient material; each member having upper and lower spaced terminal portions adapted to meet substantially in the plane of symmetry of said frame; said upper terminal portions being pivotally connected to each other and said lower terminal portions being pivotally connected to each other; whereby said frame is capable of exural and pivotal motion to follow the movements of the body.

4. A frame for a garment comprising: four elements of lamentary resilient material extending laterally from the plane of symmetry of the frame and slightly curved to conform to and contact the body adjacent the breasts; those elements denning the upper margin of the frame being upwardly arched away from the plane of symmetry and those elements defining the lower margin of the frame lying substantially in a horizontal plane; said upper and lower elements forming between them a pair of breast receiving openings; each element extending to one side of the plane of symmetry being directly connected to an element extending to the other side of said plane; the free ends of said elements being more sharply curved to conform to and contact the sides and back of the body of the wearer; each pair of elements extending to one side of the plane of symmetry being joined at their extremities.

5. A frame for a garment comprising: a unitary structure of resilient material having substantially a C-shape in horizontal projection; the medial frontal portion lying substantially in a vertical plane and having the general form of a gure 8 in said plane; the lower edges of said figure being substantially flat and lying in a horizontal plane; and the arched end portions of said frame ygradually tapering down to relatively small free ends lying substantially in said horizontal plane and well below the mid-point of said medial frontal portion.

6. A frame for a, garment comprising: a unitary structure of lamentary resilient material, all elements of said structure being directly physically connected to each other and structurally continuous across the plane of symmetry from end to end of said frame, and having the general form of a figure 8 in vertical projection and being generally C-shaped in horizontal projection to conform to and resiliently grip the body of the wearer; the opposed ends of said structure being tapered down to relatively small free ends ly- 8 ing below the mid-point of the medial frontal portion of said structure.

HENRY H. BRUDERLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,045,401 Mowry June 23, 1936 2,248,204 Snider July 8, 1941 2,343,631 Bailey Mar. '7, 1944 2,388,757 Mliller NOV. 13, 1945 2,391,417 Hill Dec. 25, 1945 2,414,590 Folb Jan. 21, 1947 2,440,426 Barlow et al Apr. 27, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date '771,567 France July 30, 1934 854,831 France Jan. 29, 1940 

